Up in Arms [Ssafirsotibones]

[Seluj]

Day 50, Summer 512 AV...

This was a place that up until now, Seluj had made a point of avoiding. The two types of people that seemed to wonder around Zeltiva were the those who worked and lived by the sea and the academics that worked around the University. It was only until recently that a call to arms rumbled over the individuals of Zeltiva and more and more often you would see people dawning their blades and weapons out in the open. At first this was a seemingly interesting proposition, the chance to be a fighter and something of a knight was a powerful calling, especially for a youth of his age who was ripe for a fight anyway. He always wanted the chance to walk in his fathers footsteps, who was a knight before him. But even as he held his father's old sword in his hand there was some unsteady feelings in his arm. It wasn't that it wasn't well balanced, shaped well to his hand, but something deeper than that. Almost like an instinct or a fear...

He looked the sword up and back. The blade was clean as though it hadn't been used in a long time or perhaps hadn't been used ever, but he knew that the metal that made up the short blade was in fact older than himself. He remembered where is sat on his father's side in his sheathe and how it never left him. It was no wonder that when his father disappeared and he was forced to sell their house to survive it was the only thing that he kept. It wasn't a sob story, in fact, this was something that happened far more often in today's age than one would think. Seluj was always oddly apathetic about it, as the hope that his father would one day return was never a question in his mind. So when he didn't Seluj just went about his life as though he would one day return to his family. It was an odd sort of wish, but eight years of living under these conditions, and he had simply become accustom to them.

So when these feelings boiled up within him, this anxious energy, he figured the only way to overcome them was to take up the blade he held and make it comfortable in his hand instead of a burden. So when he saw the poster that said.

"Arm yourselves with skill, and a free mind.
Join the people who take hold of their own destiny."

He was more then happy to seek this group out. He would head for their location by morning, and take with him his only blade.

[Ssafirsotibones]

Bones had carried around his fathers gladius strapped to his back every day since he had gotten it... Every day spent in human form anyways... He kept it well honed, kept it from rusting... Cleaned it... Once in awhile he had to have it repaired or redone in part... And occasionally he spent some time examining the odd bone hilt... Made possibly, of isur bone... He was a fighter by nature, and so when he heard of a newly formed fighting group being made, one which wanted to teach every able bodied person to fight... He could not agree more with its philosophy. He had been preaching it to many a person back in Alvadas... And now he was in a city consisting mainly of weak bodied scholars... Sure, some were in good shape, the ones who worked on the docks and boats... And there was also that annoying contingent of mages wandering around, using magic willy nilly... He could still thrust his blade into there gut, regardless of there hand waving and chantings... So he could not see why anyone would not want to learn to fight... Which was why he had been making sure to come by regularly, in case he had someone who needed teaching from him come by... Maybe someone who wanted to cross fists, or blades... He had gotten to the place early in the morning... Watched as another person walked in, who appeared to be a frail boned and weak fisted scholar... But better than nothing... As he walked in, he did notice something... The weapon he held on his own back, was of the same type as this human used... Though obviously not the exact same... He was fairly certain that his own weapon was unique... As the man came in, Bones crossed to him, and nodded at his weapon. "Are you wanting to learn to ussse ssat? If ssso, I can ssshow you wiss my own..."

[Seluj]

He didn't need to explore long before he was in fact approached. It was something about people who shared a common interest that they seemed to have empathy between them. A man who danced and performed could appreciate another man's performance, as well as see those who have the potential and passion for dance as well. It was an innate sort of instinct that all living things could pick up on, whether Seluj was aware of it or not. Similar Djed's most likely gravitated toward one another. Birds of a feather. His man was curious in the way that he spoke, but Seluj had already seen and heard his fair share of curious things in his life, and for the most part, he didn't question them for as long as they weren't something that he needed to know right then and there. Seluj was simple and naive, not necessarily by nature, but by choice. In a land where faith was held not in ones self, but in the gods, Seluj had chosen to give others chances before judging them, and to believe in himself. A pathetic notion for those whose goal was to survive, but hey, everyone had their character flaw right?

Though he did have a sheathed sword with him, he was curious what exactly gave him away. He investigated the man in front of him only to see that he too had a sword of similar length, perhaps even the same type of blade. Seluj figured this his lucky day, and took it in stride, as he didn't have too many of them, "Y-yes. I want to learn to wield this blade... But I have little money for lessons. I will be indebted to you! I'm sure I can repay the favor somehow." He said, cautious, but taking the risk. This person had an oddly sssinissster aura about them that he couldn't quite put his finger on, but he was determined.

[Ssafirsotibones]

It seemed the man did want to learn to use the blade... But he did note a tone of hesitancy, perhaps fear, in his words?... Though he wondered a bit more on his speaking of money... Bones usually just taught others to fight if they wished to learn of it, and this place was more of a volunteer thing than teaching for money... It was more of a group of people coming together in there desire to learn to protect themselves... Did anyone even get paid for working here? Regardless, he would not reply to these words, as they were of little importance. All that mattered was the man accepted to him teaching him, and so he would. Though if the man did decide he was in Bones debt, it would not hurt to have him feeling like he owed him, as foolish as it was. Bones would draw his gladius, the slick of leather on metal, as he did, and waited for the man to draw his blade... Once he was prepared, Bones would move in to initially test his skill, in fighting with a blade, and unarmed... He would make a one handed slash at the man, which purposely would fall short of hitting him by a few inches, but would still likely make the man dodge or deflect it reflexively. And once he got in close with the sword attack, he would use his empty hand, and try to punch him in the gut. Of course, he had not mentioned it was also a battle of body and not just weapon, but Bones liked to multitask. And he could surely do with learning how to fighting with his fist. Though he was sure to hold back on his attacks, not going his full dhani force, which was much more than a human could manage. He would try and hold himself back to about what a normal human could do, also so it would be less likely for it to be noticed he was stronger than normal.

[Seluj]

Seluj had no formal training, nor did he understand the etiquette of a spar or training. What training he did have in limited magic arts were those unorthodox by regular standards. In fact he was taught by a group of otherwise ominous street performers. It was a long story and not one that he could recall in completion right this second, as it would seem as though he was suddenly under attack! In situations like this when faced with confrontation he most likely never himself fought back. He relied on what he was reasonably skilled at to improvise his way out of sticky situation. So when he drew his blade, he wasn't completely prepared for a sword fight just that second.

His natural athleticism was impressive by human standards and the flexibility and dexterity of dancing was actually a great advantage. He could simply move in ways most people couldn't, or didn't most of the time. Not to say that this would suddenly adapt to him being an exceptional fighter, but it would reflect in his baited dodge. He didn't know the first slash was intended not to hit him, and so as he slashed across his person, caught off guard, Seluj instinctually bent at the knee while leaning backwards so that his head would be out of range if slashed. This naturally through him off balance causing him to stumble back on his heels to catch himself, but also to ready himself should he have to run away.

"Hey! I'm sorry! I'm Sorry! Did I do something wrong?!" he pleaded. His skipping backwards would prevent him from taking a second blow as he would naturally be out of range for a punch. He had no idea that his would be aggressor wasn't human. All and all he was lost! For Seluj to draw his blade, he would either have to be forced to do so, or told to do so, as it wasn't something he would regularly resort to.

[Ssafirsotibones]

Bones was a hands on teacher. He taught someone how to fight, by fighting. After all, if you wanted to learn how to fish, someone took you fishing... So why not fighting, in a safe way, to learn how to fight. It made sense to him, and he had always lived by it. So he did not really get what this humans problem was... Hadn't he asked to learn to fight? And now he was freaking out and getting upset over what Bones had done. "We are in a ssspar, to train, how elssse do I teach you to defend with a blade, but to attack you? Now ussse your blade to defend yourssself, or next time I will aim to actually hit you, unlike the lassst one." This last offhand statement, might bring a bit of reality to the man, who might have thought he had dodged the attack so well and gracefully. While in reality, it had never been intended to even hit him. Of course, a good enough swordsman could have told that, and would have just stood there, letting it slide by, knowing it would not hit from experience. Bones was not even quite to that level yet, so this person certainly was not, were he could tell what was aimed to hit. Bones waited for him to give some sort of nod of approval, or sign of understanding, before coming at him again. This time he would give two slashes, the first one aimed to hit the humans weapon directly, and the second to slash in front of his chest, though like the first strike to not actually hit. Then he would use his empty hand, to try to punch him in the shoulder of his off arm. Though he would have to see, it depended if the man used a one handed strike like Bones, even though he did not have the increased strength like him to be able to do so, or used a more powerful two handed hold that had a better chance of holding up to his blows.

[Seluj]

The man took the time to explain the situation, and Seluj instantly calmed down. So this was how things worked, jumping right into it with a spar. Seluj wasn't stupid or unknowledgeable, he just had never been in a combat situation that didn't involve broken bottles and drunken sailors. But now that he had clarified that it was a spar and not that he was just lashing out at Seluj, his face solidified into that of a more determined and focused glance. It was interesting, however, that he said that he didn't aim to hit him. A spar was just that, but they were using real weapons, not the wooden kind he had seen people use for training. There was always a chance of getting hurt, so he had to be specifically careful. The man that offered to train him was most likely smart enough not to do anything that would cause him bodily harm, and most likely had the expertise and skill in order to keep him from scoring a harmful blow as well.

Seluj stood up straight and nodded in understanding, but before he could speak a work, he was engaged once again, bringing him to defend himself instinctively. Holding the short sword in only his right hand he would come to meet the first of the mans slashes, which was intentionally aimed at his own blade. This test of strength was one he would lose, as he wasn't particularly aware of how much force was put behind the blade, and how much weight was behind the slash itself. The clash of metal would sent a chilling reverberation up his arm causing his arm to jerk back. The second slash would be one in which he was wide open as he attempted to recover.

The second slash was faster than he could recover, surprisingly so. And across his chest, the blade would nearly cut him, slicing a noticeable rip across his clothes, tearing his shirt evenly. Seluj was shocked. Not only was he a little upset that his shirt was torn, but if it were a real situation he might have been actually wounded! There was no doubt that this slash wasn't meant to harm him, but it was still impressive. Seluj considered this his time to counter attack, but what he hadn't expected was the third his still, coming across his left shoulder. It was like a 'dead leg' but for your arm, striking a nerve in a way that felt like hitting a bruise and his first instinct was to grab his shoulder with his opposite arm, the arm that held the blade.

So instead, as he came across his body with his right arm, short sword in hand, he would jab at the man with a forward thrust. He was only using his one hand to hold it, making it significantly slowly, and having hesitated from the blow to his shoulder it would have been a moments too slow to be impossible to block. Seluj wasn't sure if they were to stop when someone took a blow, as some did when the sparred in boxing, however he would continue to fight until he was alerted to stop.

[Arcane]

Rewards and Treasure! Experience Points +1 Teaching Lores Practical Teaching Miscellaneous n/a Comments Graded for Bones, since Seluj is inactive. Bones is highly competent in gladius, and there isn't enough use of it in this thread to justify points (due to it ending so soon). PM me if you have any questions.